Cayman Salvage Master

The Cayman Salvage Master is a deliberately scuttled, largely intact 187-foot wreck lying upright on a sandy bottom about seven miles southeast of Key West and is widely regarded as one of the most popular wrecks in the area. Key features include a large cable spool and pulley on the bow and deck artifacts such as metal bicycles and an old payphone; exploration typically involves circling the exterior structure and inspecting the deck level. Dives are boat entries using the wreck’s mooring buoys (usually bow and stern). Maximum depth is about 90 ft, with the deck around 70–75 ft and the seafloor roughly 90–95 ft. Visibility is generally good, often 50 to 100 ft, and water temperatures range from the mid-70s to mid-80s °F. The site is subject to moderate to strong Gulf Stream currents so drift diving is common; typical routes start at the bow or stern and follow the ship outline. Divers should carry a light, cutting tool, and surface marker buoy and monitor air closely. The vessel was built in the 1930s as a U.S. Army mine-layer and cable-layer, later served as a Coast Guard buoy tender, capsized in port, and sank in 1985 while being towed to an artificial reef site. The wreck remains largely intact with preserved deck and superstructure; interior spaces are narrow with entanglement hazards, so penetration is limited and generally reserved for very experienced, properly equipped divers.